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The
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Public Health Hiring Help The truth is, while it’s often required, the practicum is what you make of it. It’s an opportunity to explore and a chance to flex the public health muscles you’ve built in the classroom. Sometimes, it provides clarity—a path to a full-time job or a connection within a specialized area. Sometimes, it doesn’t. And sometimes, you don’t even want it to. Every option has tradeoffs. A smaller organization might give you the chance to wear many hats and learn new skills, but lack name recognition. A large agency or company may offer prestige, but limit your scope. Either way, you’re still gaining valuable experience. So why put so much pressure on it? It’s easy to fall into comparison—wanting your practicum to lead to publications, job offers, or future funding. But regardless of where you land, you’ll walk away with new skills, professional connections, and the same degree as your peers. So, without further ado, let’s unpack the public health practicum (or APE…or ELA…or whatever else your school calls it). Typical Constraints Most public health programs have specific parameters for what counts as a practicum. Nearly all require at least one deliverable—a tangible contribution to your host organization, such as a manuscript, presentation, dataset, or SOP. Programs may differ on timing—some allow practicums during the academic year, while others reserve them for the summer. Check your school’s rules early so you can plan accordingly. Your practicum must also align with your program’s concentration (e.g., health policy, global health, epidemiology). “Alignment” is usually defined by your department’s core competencies, which are intentionally broad. As long as you can justify how your work connects to these skills, you’re likely in the clear. If an opportunity doesn’t meet all your academic requirements—say, if you’re also completing a certificate—many schools will let you combine multiple experiences to fulfill your practicum. Finally, most schools require your practicum to serve a community partner, meaning your work must have stakeholders outside your university. Typical Challenges Of course, the requirements aren’t the only factors at play. Like any internship, not all community partners can pay students or offer convenient locations. Only you can decide what’s feasible. Are you open to relocating for the summer for a paid opportunity? Would you prefer to stay local, even if unpaid? Some pubic health programs offer funding for practicums abroad, and many organizations are now open to hybrid or remote arrangements. Don’t be afraid to ask questions—about funding, flexibility, or deliverables. The worst someone can say is no. Finding a Practicum Students find practicum opportunities in all kinds of ways. Here are a few strategies that worked for my peers: 1. Leverage Existing Work-Study Opportunities If your current work-study job involves projects that meet your practicum requirements, talk to your supervisor about carving out deliverables. Many supervisors are happy to formalize extra work from students they already trust. I know firsthand that this strategy works—I did this for my own MPH practicum in the spring of my first year! Even if you don’t currently have a work-study role, consider asking around your cohort—sometimes community partners are looking for help after another student leaves or in a busy season. For example, I referred a girl in my program to my position when I was away for the summer. Similarly, a friend of mine helped her roommate get her practicum by connecting her with her work study supervisor—then they were coworkers for the summer! A simple referral from a classmate could lead to a practicum of your own. 2. Formal Internships You’re already ahead of the game if you’re reading this—many internships featured in the Public Health Hiring Help can double as practicums. These paid opportunities often align with core public health areas and offer meaningful, real-world experience. Just be aware—not all opportunities are designated for Summer 2026, some are listed for spring or winter. This approach worked well for a friend of mine in health policy and management—he worked for a pharmaceutical company for a summer! Another did infectious disease epidemiology work at Columbia for the summer through Kennedy Krieger RISE program. 3. Institution-Affiliated Projects Don’t overlook opportunities within your school. Many research centers and initiatives are community-facing and need student assistance. If the work benefits an external stakeholder, it likely qualifies. Ask your professors, advisors, and departmental staff—many are connected to ongoing projects that could use your help. This strategy worked well for a friend of mine studying environmental health—she reached out to a professor, who connected her with an on-campus research center focused on PFAS exposures! A friend in epidemiology also did this. He reached out to a professor who studied HIV patient populations abroad, and she took him under his wing. Both are likely to be published! 4. Use Your Network and Resources Leave no stone unturned until you have an opportunity to accept. Talk to older students in your program—what did they do last year? Can they connect you? For example, a friend of mine continued a project in Brazil someone in his student organization had helped initiate the summer before. Talk to alumni! Maybe some are still able to connect you to their old supervisor, or maybe they have new connections they can link you to! Connections are everything—my friend from the example at the pharmaceutical company was hired by an alum of our school and his specific department! Similarly, talk to your school’s career center—they may have guidance on where to start and who to talk to, especially if they coordinate career fairs or networking opportunities. And, of course, don’t be afraid to reach out directly to community partners you’re interested in and chat about opportunities to work with them. Don’t fear the cold email! As I told By Ben in our collaboration—that’s how I’ve gotten my foot in the door. My global health undergraduate practicum came from cold emailing someone at an NGO I admired, and I was able to become my division’s first-ever intern. Conclusion The practicum may feel like a mountain to climb, but it’s really a bridge—a way to connect your classroom learning to the world of practice. Whether your experience leads directly to a job, sparks a new interest, or simply helps you grow as a professional, it’s all progress. Approach it with curiosity, flexibility, and openness. Don’t chase the “perfect” practicum; chase the one that fits you right now. No matter where you land, you’ll come away with the same thing every great public health professional has—experience, perspective, and the confidence to keep going. ■
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